Mosaic’s original production spotlights how music bridges the gap between language, culture and heritage!

Mosaic‘s singing and acting companies are in full swing preparing for Mosaic’s original play, Detroit to Dakar. Detroit to Dakar is the compelling story of the re-enactment of Mosaic’s young artist traveling from Detroit to Dakar in 2003. The story highlights the synergy of music while celebrating the differences between American culture and African heritage.

“Detroit to Dakar is a story of journeys. Besides the thousands of miles these young artists traveled to get to Africa, the greater distance they traveled was within themselves. To dig deep into what it means to have African heritage and be an American, to be the descendants of people captured from Africa and enslaved in America, to feel very much like foreigners in Africa and outsiders in America – and to somehow make sense of all of this as many of them prepared to leave for their next journey, college,” remarks Rick Sperling, Mosaic’s founder and Director of Detroit to Dakar. “It is also about the journey that Mosaic has made over the past 27 years. When we started in 1992, there were 28 zealous young people who did everything – acting, singing, songwriting, playwriting and tech. Our first set was literally held together by duct tape”, Rick recalls, sharing the sentiments of what was once a dream.

Detroit to Dakar bridges the symbolism of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and the accessibility of arts and theatre for metro youth. The story documents Mosaic Young Artists’ journey from an exchange with the John K. Kennedy Association of Dakar – an organization dedicated to create and encourage cultural participation and the arts in youth. Stories of youth intellect and human dependence explore intimate transformations while navigating Young Artist’s journey of the world today. Cultural exposure is integral to everyone! Together, we learn how to become active participants in our communities and contributors to history. We’re excited to share this story, our Young Artists experiences, and create a unique sense of vulnerability for inner transformation.